WHILE the federal government was still undecided about how best to tackle what had obviously became a menace in nearly all geo-political zones of the country, and with Nigerians crying out for something urgent to be done as the killer herdsmen unleashed terror on communities and villages across the country, some state governors decided to salvage the situation. While some of them, like Governor Ortom, introduced legislations aimed at curbing clashes between farmers and herdsmen, others ordered an end to open grazing.
Plateau: Keeping the killers at bay
The invasion of Plateau communities started long before that of Benue State. It became obvious in 2010 they have attacked several communities in all the three senatorial zones in the state, but the attacks were mostly centered on Plateau South Senatorial Zone occupied predominantly by Berom ethic group. The attacks by Fulani herdsmen subsided in 2015 as soon as Gov. Lalong assumed leadership in the state. This was possible after an appeal by the new administration for cease fire and to embrace dialogue for peace to reign in Berom land.
Though Lalong succeeded in restoring peace in Berom land, the governor and the security agencies in the state could not recover numbers of villages forcefully taken over by the Fulani herdsmen. The member representing Riyom Constituency in Plateau State House of Assembly confirmed this when he said, “As I am talking to you, not less than 27 villages belonging to Berom are presently being occupied by Fulani herdsmen. Berom farmers were forced to flee from their villages to avoid being killed by the armed herdsmen; now the herdsmen have taken over their houses and their farm lands as if it is their own. Now, the Berom owner’s of the villages are still in displaced camps in the local government”
Some the villages effected in this forceful displacement by Fulani herdsmen with the use of arms include, Rafpen, Mase, Shonong, Lua from Bachit district. Then from Riyom district you have Jol, Rim, Gwol, Tahol, Sopp and also Jebbu, Kwaki, Gwarim, Gwom and Torok.
“These villages I mentioned and several others were attacked more than twice and when the people realised they were not safe there they had to relocate. As soon they relocated, these Fulani will take over their houses and remained there. Even though there is no more attacks in the areas, government has not been able to guarantee the security of these displaced people to return to their homes. I think the situation of displaced persons in my constituency posed a very huge challenge to governments at all level, their rehabilitation is beyond the capacity of state and local government authorities”
As if the Fulani herdsmen were not done with Berom communities, they stormed Irigwe community within the last quarter of 2017. In three successive attacks, the herdsmen killed more than a hundred Irigwe farmers. In the very last attack in Bassa Local Government, the armed herdsmen discovered a camp in primary school where the Irigwe they have displaced in their earlier attack were camping; the herdsmen found their way into the camp and opened fire on the displaced Irigwe people, killing over 20 of them at close range.
In all the killings by the Fulani herdsmen, they often claimed it was a reprisal attack to revenge an attack by the host communities. Even when the security agencies stepped in and made some arrests, the Fulani herdsmen reportedly took laws into their hands to take revenge in such bloody manner.
The last killings by herdsmen in Bassa Local Government of Plateau provoked people of the state into demanding for the enactment of an anti-open grazing law from the state government. A group known as Plateau Peace and Progressive Forum has presented an anti-open grazing bill to the State House of Assembly.
The bill, tagged “citizens bill” seeks to end herdsmen-farmers clashes in the state was received by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Azi, who promised to do the wish of the people of the state.
Spokesman of the group, who doubles as its convener, Mr. Dachung Bagos, made the presentation to the Speaker. He said, “We are calling on the state assembly to, as a matter of urgent public importance, fast track the passage of the bill to safeguard lives of citizens from the armed herdsmen.”
Mr. Bagos said the bill, when passed will reduce the rate of killings in the state by herdsmen in conflict with farmers, adding that whoever wants to graze should purchase land and establish ranching. He added, “We are calling on the present regime of Governor Simon Lalong not to support the Fulani herdsmen by giving them land for ranching, let them buy their land because they are doing business with the cows.
“We are against open grazing because our lives are not safe with the presence of Fulani herdsmen in our communities, the herdsmen has no value for human life; they consider the lives of their animals more than human lives.”
Though the bill submitted by the Plateau Peace and Progressive Forum to the State House of Assembly appeared to be a private bill, unknown to the people, the Plateau State Governor was also working on modalities to stop incessant attacks on citizens of the state by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen. Gov. Lalong revealed the plan in a remark during a party stakeholders meeting in December last year. He told an APC audience that the state would soon implement the ranching policy in order to end clashes between farmers and herders in the state.
Lalong, who said he is deeply saddened by the barbaric attacks in the state recently, said the executive bill for implementing the Ranching policy is almost ready and would soon be sent to the State House of Assembly. The governor also called on all peace loving citizens to stand united in prayers and security vigilance as this administration is determined to better the lives of citizens of the state as well as ensure that peace is restored to the state.
So, as it stand now, there are two bills before the Plateau State House of Assembly, with both aimed at stopping the rampaging armed Fulani herders from taking more lives in Plateau State in the new year. It is not however clear when the processes of turning the bills into law would be but certainly, the government and people of Plateau State are not ready to take any further risk to allow another attack from Fulani herdsmen. As a matter of fact, people of the state are already scared of the name Fulani as a result of the recent experience of Fulani herdsmen invasion in the state. To the level that none of the 17 local governments in the state is ready to be associated with the name Fulani. For instance, the people of Quan Pan Local Government of the state recently reacted sharply to a tourism agency that attempted to count Fulani as one of the major ethnic group in the local government. The tourism group had in an attempt to promote tourists potentials of the Plateau listed Fulani tribe among the various tribes found in the local government. But the indigenous tribes of the local government reacted sharply to denounce the Fulani name mentioned in their local government.
While reacting to the publication, the people under the auspices of Qua’an-Pan Development Initiative (QPDI) said, “Our attention has been drawn to a publication entitled ”Tourism… travel, invest on the Jos Plateau” in which tourism destinations in the 17 local government areas of Plateau State were highlighted. The document is allegedly endorsed by the Chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Board (refer to page 4), printed by Hamtul Press Ltd., and unveiled and distributed at the World Travel Market Conference in London on 6 -8 November, 2017.
The Quan Pan people, who reacted in a statement signed by their Chairman, Sir Nathaniel Godwin and their Secretary Barr. Kwaplong Collins, said, “We have noticed that on page 64, where our dear Qua’an-Pan LGA is profiled, Fulani is listed as one of the major ethnic/language groups under the sub-title Major Ethnic/Languages Groups: Bwall, Dormak, Mentang, Goemai and Jagathery and Fulani. We want to draw your attention to the fact that listing Fulani as a major ethnic/language group in Qua’an-Pan LGA amounts to misrepresentation of facts, distortion of history and misappropriation of status. We hereby debunk the claim and declare that: Fulani has never been and is not a major ethnic/language group in Qua’an-Pan LGA.
However, in spite of the numbers of people alleged to have been killed by the Fulani herdsmen in Plateau and other states, the Fulani community are beating their chest that the killings were done for genuine reasons, they feel there is nothing wrong with killing fellow humans the manner they are doing. The Secretary General of Gad Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Alhaji Saleh Bayeri, simply said, the killings are the Fulani ways of fighting back prolonged neglect and injustice meted to the Fulani by people and government of Nigeria.
According to Bayeri, the only thing that will prevent the killings is for Nigerians to respect the fundamental rights of the Fulani herdsmen and accord the Fulani their due respect in terms of allowing them to graze freely anywhere in the country without hindrance.
Kaduna: El-Rufai’s carrot and stick approach
In Kaduna State, 2017 was significantly peaceful as far as farmers/herdsmen clashes are concerned, due to several efforts put in place by government and other stakeholders.
The government had taken bold steps to end the age long crisis in southern Kaduna. One of such steps is the establishment of a military Foward Operation Base, which was equally followed by a military operation, tagged ‘Exercise Harbin Kunama’. The exercise, according to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, was to flush out attackers from the zone.
The military operation recorded significant success as there was no other incident of organised attack or clash throughout 2017, until Christmas eve when a lone gunman killed four during Christmas carol in the area.
Other stakeholders equally contributed to the peace building efforts, one of such is Kafanchan Peace Forum floated by Alhaji Samaila Barau Maigoro, a Kafanchan born businessman.
Maigoro said Kafanchan Peace Forum was formed to compliment government efforts, especially in the area of reconciliation through reaching out to the youths, adding that, “we are fully aware that the government at all levels have taken appropriate steps towards security of the zone, but we are out to compliment government’s efforts by focusing on the youths. We will be engaging the youths by sensitising them on the need to promote peace.
“Members of this forum are drawn from Kafanchan, Goska, Dangoma, Matsirga, Katsit, Ungwan Masara, Bayan Loco and other affected communities. We are using the youths in these communities to get to others and we also hold town hall meetings of the youths in the affected areas of Southern Kaduna, with a view to putting an end to the cycle of crises”, he said.
In Enugu: Peace committee ushers in relative peace
From Chris Oji, Enugu
A relative calm reigns between Enugu communities and Fulani herdsmen after the setting up of a Security and Peace Committee by the Enugu State Government on September 15, 2016.
The committee was set up as a result of bloody attacks on two Enugu communities by Fulani herdsmen. The communities include Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area and Attakwu, Akegbeugwu in Enugu South Local Government Area in which scores of people lost their lives.
Secretary to the Security and Peace Committee, Mr. Emma Mbamalu, told The Nation that they have been able to calm down nerves and introduce measures whereby the communities and the nomadic cattle rearers have a meeting point to amicably settle their differences.
According to Mbamalu, all the 17 local government areas of the state were visited by the committee where an all-inclusive arrangement was put in place. This involves the traditional rulers, community leaders, civil defence, vigilante groups, Fulani settlers, Miyetti Allah and other stakeholders.
Within each community, a Cattle Control Committee was set up. The cattle control committee is to determine and settle dispute between the community members and the Fulani herdsmen in the event of any trouble.
If any community member complains that his farm has been ravaged, the committee will intervene and determine the extent of the damage and would compel the herdsmen to pay compensation. So also, if any herdsman reports to the committee that his cow has been killed, the committee would flung into action and determine the authenticity of the claim and the community would be made to pay compensation after it has substantiated the claim. Both parties are complying to the arrangement.
One decision which the Security and Peace Committee implemented is that the herdsmen should steer clear of the Ukpabi Nimbo and Atakwu Akegbeugwu communities for now until tension in the communities who lost their dear ones considerably calm down.
But in other communities, the herdsmen, who are already there should be allowed to stay provided they live within the stipulations of the Security and Peace committee. “And they have been cooperating and happy with us”, said Mbamalu.
Mbamalu hinted that one of the remarkable achievements of the committee was to investigate and dispel the allegation that the traditional rulers sold lands of their communities to the Fulani herdsmen.
“We found out that the allegation was not true. The royal fathers all denied that and showed proof of their innocence. Hence we enlightened their subjects that the allegations were unfounded and could not hold.”
Mbamalu also remarked that they were two nomadic races involved in the arrangement, the Fulani and the Shua Arab.
Ekiti: No killing since Fayose’s anti-grazing law
Life has not been the same since May 20, 2016 since suspected herdsmen attacked Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State In the wake of the attack, two residents of the village were killed by the rampaging herdsmen while six others were injured.
Governor Ayo Fayose visited the village and mobilised the traditional hunters with a Hilux van, N5 million and other equipment.
Other actions followed, including the passing of a law by the House of Assembly on 26th August, 2016 which bans open grazing in Ekiti and criminalises bearing of weapons by herdsmen.
The law allows grazing in designated areas to be allotted in each of the 16 local government areas between 7.00 am and 6.00 pm.
Fayose signed the bill into law on 29th August, 2016 and since then, the activities of herdsmen has been curtailed in the state.
Many of them who violated the law were charged to court with some of them convicted. There has been no killing in the state since then.
The state government holds meetings with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on the need to ensure adherence to the law.
But on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, Fayose gathered local hunters from all parts of the state urging them to secure their localities in the wake of killings in Benue State.
Fayose alleged that those he referred to as “Bororo herdsmen” have surreptitiously entered the state hence the need to save the people of the state from attacks.
The governor said: “I have received information that Bororo herdsmen have entered our forest reserves.
“Herdsmen have infiltrated our land, they want to kill our people, nobody can kill our people.
“I want you to go back home, go and protect your people, go and protect your domains, make sure everybody entering our state is screened,” he said.
Delta: Managing a common menace
In Delta State, the Fulani herdsmen menace is as well-known as common house burgling, especially in the Delta Central area, which is home to the Urhobo.
In 2017, reports of herdsmen killings were all over the place; from Ohorhor to Uwheru in Ughelli North, to Abraka, Eku and Igun in Ehtiope East and many other council areas of the state.
Several innocent lives were lost to the bloody activities of the herdsmen, many are left to nurse permanent physical challenges and farmers in the area lived in fear of both the destruction of life work as well as being waylaid and butchered by a bloodthirsty gang.
In 2017, communities in the state started organizing themselves to resist the invasion of their lives by the herdsmen. The apex Urhobo national body; the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), during its 2017
Convention in December, made a special plea to the federal government to forestall a situation where the people would have to resort to self help by helping to curb the activities of the herdsmen.
The situation has, however, bred a feeling among the different communities against anything or anyone associated to the Fulani. While some have banished grazing within their territories by Fulani herdsmen, like in Olomu, some others would not hesitate to take them on in a fight anytime they are sighted around. Although there has not been any report of herdsmen killing so far this year, there have been that of community resistance against them, leading to the death of a herdsman.
In the Upper Agbarho axis of Ughelli, in Ughelli North council area, a faceoff between a woman and a herdsman had led to the stoning to death of the man. This circumstance has been identified as resulting from the ill-feeling that the herdsmen activities across the country in recent times, as well as what the Urhobo people have also suffered in their contacts with the cattle breeders has bred in the people. From all indications, nobody around Delta is willing to wait to be killed without defense by a cattle rearing stranger.
Let’s copy Gambia’s example – Fulani leader
ASSISTANT National Secretary of MACBAN, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi said, Nigeria must follow the Gambian example to address the persistent attacks in the southern part of Kaduna State. Abdullahi said the Gambia approach is a situation where the federal government will take stock of every nomad and their animals that are coming into the country as well as ensure adequate security of their lives and animals that are in their custody.
According to him, “we have ECOWAS protocol on trans-human. There is also ECOWAS protocol on free movement of goods and people within the sub-region. These protocols allow you to take your cattle from Central African Republic coast, Republic of Cameroon, coast part of Chad, through the entire Nigeria to Benin Republic and return and Nigeria is a signatory to these.
“That means that if a Cameroonian nomads come into Kaduna State, may be to Igabi for instance, it is the responsibility of Kaduna State Government to ensure his safety and I think that is where the issue of compensation came in.
“I think the Federal Government should try to adopt the Gambian approach. The Gambian government is also a signatory to these two protocols. Any country within the West African sub-region, who want to send his nomads to Gambia should apply officially, telling the number of nomads and cows expected there; telling them the stalk routes they will ply to Gambia and the time duration they will stay in that country.
”And of course they countersigned that, you will not take arms to Gambia. Ensure that all animals are vaccinated against killer diseases as well as your people vaccinated against diseases. This is a government responsibility at such a time as this”, Dr. Abdullahi advised.
On effort made by the state government to address the incessant herdsmen attack on Southern Kaduna, which he said has foreign undertone, Abdullahi said, “during one of our visits to Niger Republic, we sat down with the nomads there and said please let us sign an agreement that when you are coming to Nigeria – Kaduna State, don’t come with arms, our government will protect you.
”That’s why in 2017, we didn’t have any incident of encroachment into the farmlands. It is important to add there are several people of Sanga, Jema’a, Kaura and Sango Kataf who killed several Fulani they came in contact with and even their cows but were not mostly reported in the media, so people don’t hear that. But what is important to us now is peace across board”, he added.
Attacks aren’t clashes over crops and cows – SOKAPU President
But the President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), the mouthpiece of the Southern Kaduna people, Barrister Solomon Musa, said the attacks suffered by the people of Kaduna, Benue and others were beyond clashes over land, crops and cattle. He said it is a case of clear terrorism which must be addressed as one.
He however said that since cattle breeding, like piggery and farming is a private business, the government should jettison the idea of grazing reserve or colony and let people who are in the business of rearing cattle establish ranches for their businesses, as it is done in the organised settings.
According to him, “first, I don’t believe in this general narrative of farmer/herdsmen clash or even herdsmen attacks. This is clear genocide, clear terrorism and nothing more. Because the narrative of herdsmen presupposes that there are challenges in the issue of land, grass and all that, I don’t believe in that.
“What has pastoralism got to do with taking lives of innocent citizens in their homes, in the night? In the past, there used to be skirmishes and problems and that is normal in any society where there is co-existence. Then, all these killings were not there. But now, it has changed. So, this is sheer terrorism and sheer genocide.
“Now, talking about solution to the problem, now go to any where all over the world, what they are doing now is ranching. Even President Muhammadu Buhari has set a good example. His cows are not grazing all over the place. It is ranching. He has a ranch in Daura.
“The farmers that cultivate their lands; it is either they inherited those lands or they bought them, because farming is a private business, the same way pastoralism, that is rearing of cattle is a private business.
“Let’s face it; the few nomadic Fulani don’t even have cows. The owners of these cows are in Abuja or their state capitals, they are wealthy people. They can actually buy lands and do ranching and when they do ranching, the benefits are far more; you end up having more yield because the cows are fatter and produce more milk.
“So, government should not come out with the idea of robbing Peter to pay Paul. How can you take my own land and give it to another man to do his own private business, at the expense of my own business? For example, in my own area, people rear pigs, why are we not talking about land for piggery? Why is the Federal Government not concerned about that one? Must people be killed for Fulani to get grazing reserve or grazing colony?
“So, the government should be serious, if there are ranches, you can provide necessary infrastructures, like road, water and electricity; then the owners of the ranches will pay for those services. When that is done, nobody will complain. But, you come to my own place and take over my land for grazing? It can’t work. Can government also show commitment, for example, go to Katsina take land and say, we are bringing people from Southern Kaduna to come and do piggery? So, let’s face the reality, because what is good for the goose is good for the gander” he said.
